'The NDC is on a war path, they want confusion in this country' - Afenyo-Markin claims

The Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary caucus of inciting unrest and confusion in Ghana.

Addressing the media on November 7, 2024, he expressed disappointment over the sequence of events that led to the adjournment of the House again by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.

He explained that the NPP caucus’ absence was not due to negligence or irresponsibility but rather a procedural dispute.

He noted that despite the National Peace Council's mediation efforts and engagement with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the NDC remains unyielding in returning to their designated seats in the House.

"The Peace Council informed me they had engaged the Speaker on the issue before the Supreme Court and that if Parliament reconvenes, the NDC Minority will go back to their seats.

"Several other prominent Ghanaians who, for some reasons I wouldn't want to mention, had also engaged with the Speaker. My understanding after the engagement was that the Speaker would direct the NDC Minority to sit at the right place, which is the left of the Speaker.

"Clearly, the NDC is on a war path, they want confusion in this country. They want lawlessness in this country, and all this is being supervised by the Speaker. It is sad, very sad. I would want to entreat the media to call them out, to call Mr. Speaker out, because what is the issue," he lamented.

Background:

Controversy arose after the Supreme Court stayed the Speaker's decision to declare four seats vacant, following the affected MPs' decision to "cross the carpet" by filing to contest the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections in different capacities—either as independents or on the tickets of other political parties.

This action diverges from the basis on which these MPs were originally elected to the House.

The affected seats include those held by Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).

Both sides of the House are now locked in a battle over which party holds the Majority, as the Supreme Court ruling positions the NDC in the Minority while the Speaker's ruling places the NPP in the Minority.

The core contention centers on whether the Supreme Court has the authority to restrict parliamentary decisions.

JKB/MA

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